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    marye
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    Okay, it wasn't ALL roses... One of the subjects that came up behind the scenes the other day was how just about everybody had a particular song (usually found in the second set) that they regarded as the perfect opportunity to beat the restroom crowds, purchase another overpriced water bottle, or decide whether they just had to have that T-shirt. The perfect opportunity, in short, to be anywhere but in the hall listening to the tune. In classic Deadhead fashion, it also came out that the same tune that sent one person running for the exits was the show's high point for another. So it goes. What's your experience?

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  • tigeroach
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    How did this one slip by?
    I've read alot of these posts, but how could we forget Queen Jane. I gotta go pee now just thinking about it....
  • SirX1970
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    1st set bathroom bringers
    definitely the weir "dylan" slot - masterpiece was a reason to go pee! i would never leave the 2nd set - would wait for the end of the show. thank god i never saw a show after '91! take care- chris ps - i feel bad i had to sit through a "picasso moon" once.
  • bird-song
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    The Music Never Stopped
    easy, Stella Snooze is a lovely song to take that break by, same goes for Wharf Rat, They Love Each Other, Day Job always signaled an early exit. Would never miss Help on the Way/Slipkont!/Franklin's Tower, Jack-a-Roe, Estimated Prophet or Scarlet/Fire to name a few! That being said, once they rolled from a powerful The Other One into Stella and it was a let down, then Jerry tore it up on Stella after all. With the Dead you just never know!
  • ScarletB74
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    Hate to say it..
    But Let it Grow. I know it was a fan favorite, I could always tell by the fan screams. But I just always went running especially since it tended to lead into Drums>Space and I didn't want to miss that. and if they had played "tons of Steel" I would have run screaming from the venue.
  • marye
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    Barlow may have many things to answer for...
    but writing Victim was not one of them. I knew him at the time, and let's just say he was less than thrilled having the thing attributed to him. The actual lyricist is a dude named Gerrit Graham.
  • goffchile
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    Looking at my watch
    I rarely left a show once it started, but there were a few songs where I found myself looking at my watch hoping that this one would only be the 12 minute version. The only Jerry song that was like that was China Doll (I know, sacrilege!)--but the song was sooooooo sloooowwww, even for a Jerry ballad. I would rejoice at the chorus at the end, just because I knew it was almost over. A couple Bobby song's I wasn't crazy about---Lost Sailor, Saint of Circumstance come to mind. Picasso Moon, not my fave, either. Besides that, pretty much all good.
  • smokin_dave
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    1st set, 2nd set...
    I rarely took a pee break during the first set. But if I did, it was ususally during Ramble on Rose. Good song, but I was hearing it so many times, it just ended up being my first set pee song. On the other hand, 2nd set usually called for a pee break. Either: Victim Corrina Drumz Wave to the Wind
  • westlandb
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    always a bobby song...
    I got so tired of "throwin' ...." that I would just wander...beer garden...piss run....find another friend in the crowd...or just space out.....leave my mind and body behind...the opposite of Drumz->space, when I absolutely, had to be, must be there (the more liquid, the better)!!! After all, reality is for those that can't handle drugs. That was some direct and personal advice that Dr. Tim gave me (twice - Kaiser and L.A. Forum). "Must have been the Doses, or the robins, robins in her long brown hair." of course Victim was a slider, what was Barlow thinking...reminded me of Bobby excuses for his slips, like...after Otis died (but I do understand the despair after losing your best friend, while everyone is telling you, "It was just a dog.")...or after Jerry's coma and bobby got too fucked up to play guitar at the Ranch Rock 86 Pyramid Festival * (I started a diatribe about this show, but will save that for another topic line). Picasso Moon was another that quickly became an escape clause...the "bigger than a drive-in movie, oo-wee" was just a little lame....time to pay the rental from the beer garden, before the boys broke into something that was more existential. I did have one friend that would just let loose in his pants during an outdoor show at times, starting at the front wall of Ventura '82...didn't surprise me, his wet suit had the same matching stains as his 501's. If you ever get back online....HI MIKE!!!! I started exercises in maximizing my bladder capacity since high school and learned to power pee. I could sometimes charge to the heard at Jerry's last lick and be nearly back to my spot before the first lyric of the next song. I appreciated that the boys were generally indecisive about their next selection and took the extra time to tune up at every break between song combos. * Pyramid Festival note: Mickey made up for Bobby's lackluster performance that day by letting loose on "Fire on the Mountain." This was the first time that I heard Mickey do vocals and his chanting / singing / rap rendition was awesome.
  • izzie
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    Uncle John Deadhead...
    Pat Adams is my best friend. She was telling me about that conversation she had with you, which is what prompted me to mention to MaryE that we needed a pee song topic in here.... small world! and Welcome. pomo1, I can't manage to convince you that it wasn't about escaping the music, but about having to pee and trying to time it to suit one's tastes!
  • uncle john deadhead
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    stella blue
    i was emailing my friend pat adams the other day and i brought up this particular subject. it always seemed that the boys would be wailing away and blowing up the show and then they would play stella and i would deflate like a balloon. from a great high and groove to scratching my head and saying please take this song away. i have disliked this song for ages and i always will
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Okay, it wasn't ALL roses... One of the subjects that came up behind the scenes the other day was how just about everybody had a particular song (usually found in the second set) that they regarded as the perfect opportunity to beat the restroom crowds, purchase another overpriced water bottle, or decide whether they just had to have that T-shirt. The perfect opportunity, in short, to be anywhere but in the hall listening to the tune. In classic Deadhead fashion, it also came out that the same tune that sent one person running for the exits was the show's high point for another. So it goes. What's your experience?
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Johnman...you sacreligeous oaf, you (I'm just a kidding, you know!) xoxxo Gypsy Cowgirl goofing around again......but, yeh, right on......
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arr......i now be properly chastised...........but...to this day....when the drums start to fade out........i gotta pee........pavlov's deadhead i 'spose
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ok, I'm willing to admit it, I used to take naps during drums / space. funny as shit, my crowd said -- during the touch head era, and sorority gals would ask tour buddies with great shock: 'is he OK?' 'sure he is OK', Al Dente (old tour buddy) would reply, 'he is just taking a nap' as soon as the boys all got back on stage, and as the first chords would be heard, I'd get a boot in the ribs, to wake me, and a "cc, go ahead man, call that tune" which I usually could. ( -:
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all i ever heard was security, sayin' "get 'im outa here, or i will"........but not during drums, so boy i guess i got bit by uh tangent
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I'm a huge Weir fan, but.... Queen Jane, Eternity.... Phrom Phil... Wave To The Wind Even Jerry... Row Jimmy Other than that - I'd hold it as long as possible!!! ~ Pappy www.theCAUSEjams.com "Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right." - Robert Hunter
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ROW JIMMY!!!! OYGoh well each 2 their own
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Red Rooster or Walkin Blues, these were also great times for smoking too. Pappy-Row Jimmy, for shame ha ha I really agree with Gypsy though whenever nauter calls. most of the time though was sweating all those Becks and Guiness out.
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Quickly - as I don't want to usurp the thread on Row Jimmy or other songs... BUT - RARELY did they NOT get lost in the solos of this song. I saw several versions at the shows I attended. They hit it ONCE (and I didn't have to go pee!) and I enjoyed it. IMO, Jerry's weakest 1st set tune....other than Day Job (but they were done w/ that tune by the time I hopped aboard). What I can't understand is I get crap for Row Jimmy, but others didn't for saying DARK STAR & PITB jams?!!! THAT WAS the GD - jamming & exploring - getting "out there!" ;) 'Sall good... I LOVED the blues tunes...all of 'em. ~ Pappy "Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right." - Robert Hunter
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broken heart don't hurt so badain't got half what you thought you had!
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Pappy just playin man. I didn't care so much for Day Job either, just like grdaed said to each hiss own. I used to leave my seat all the time anyway go get lost in the halls for a while, especially in places that had speakers in the halls. Goe melt in the light for a while. Come to think of never really stayed in one place was always wanderering around. Get back home where you belong And don't you run off no more
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I know, I know you guys were just playin'....just find it funny that Row Jimmy (of all tunes) got ANY reaction, rather than the BIG guns, like Dark Star & Playin'. ;) Shall we go? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds? ~ Pappy www.theCAUSEjams.coom "Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right." - Robert Hunter
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just see the little bunny kicking in the air.. that come back stepgreat lyrics,thx hunter fantastic vocals,thx jerry That's the way it's been in town Ever since they tore the juke box down Two bit piece don't buy no more Not so much as it done before who said darkstar???? some of us waited our whole life for that!! and playing??? i mighta gotten up!! but thats no time for a break : )
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Page 1 of this thread...Dark Star. I couldn't believe it either!! :) Some other tunes of note mentioned, that are some of my FAVORITES: Black Peter Stella Blue (Jerry's FAVORITE original song) Death Don't Have No Mercy (but not because of boredom - because of the "heebie-jeebies" LOL!) Friend Of The Devil Someone else mentioned Row Jimmy on Page 3 of this thread! I'm not alone! I LOVE the song - that's the funny thing. BUT, as I said - they RARELY hit a good one. They'd lose count in the jams, or it was just overall uninspired. I saw ONE good one out of 5 or so live. I only hit 33 GD shows overall from 87-95. ~ Pappy www.theCAUSEjams.com "Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right." - Robert Hunter
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Me, I love Dark Star but have some friends that aren't that fond of it. Just like I love the stuff from the 60's especially Pig raps, Anthem of the Sun stuff too. But those same friends don't dig that stuff either. But Row Jimmy was loved, Ok Pappy I'll stop man. FUN,FUN,FUN! Sky was yellow and the sun was blue.
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I always seemed to run during these...Walkin Blues (this song at times was great but after so many...) Memphis Blues (same, same, same) Eternity (Jerry actually made this song paletable) Cheesy Answers (nope) Queen Jane (same, same, same) Don't Ease (I wonder what the difference in timing is for the longest version vs. the shortest version... 20 seconds... maybe?) Long, Long, Long, Long, Long, Long Way to go Home On the other hand I always tried to stay through Drums/Space
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I was too young to ever see the grateful dead but i know enough about the band to say i like every song except me and bobby mcgee. i love all the stuff pigpen sang on and i love the time with brent ps the concert at penn state was magical pss dead tour 2009 will be epic
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When I left, it was usually during Victim or during Eternity. I'd go to the bathroom and wander around a bit then come back in time for the next song. I read in the beginning of this thread about the one Head who would nap during Space, I was usually that person too. Especially if I wasn't driving and in big time Tour Haze. My friends would always be amazed how I would doze off long enough to get up and groove as they were coming out of it, but those naps helped a lot since sleep didn't always come on Tour easy for me.
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some of the tunes people take a walk on black peter r u kidding omg thats one of the best!!
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I can't remember where I was, but in the early 80's and me being new to the scene .about 1/3 of the people got up and started to walk out.I asked the people I was with if the show was over.Thats when I found out about the pee break songs :) Drums Day job even now when I here day job I have to go.......... Peace
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Drumz seemed like the time everybody who was in a cramped space or just had to go, moved. Inevitably, this and set breaks were the longest lines at the bathroom! Estimated was another perennial favorite, especially those years when Bobby got totally out of hand with the "Bobby Hahs", ya' know what I mean -- Hahh, hah, ha, ha hahhhhhh! Na, nah, na, na Nahhhhh, Na! My apologies to anybody who enjoyed those moments.
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Hmmmmmm.....Wow!! Tis hard because I pretty much like all the dead songs. But if I had to pick a song it would involve Donna. Ive got it SUNRISE. yep it would be SUNRISE for sure. Phatmoye
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DEFINATELY DONNAPhatmoye
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Never liked that one-Oh yeah and "artificial flowers" for Weir solo-also(IMO) "Knockin'" is a snoozefest.
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for me it was any dylan song....it wasn't like i was holding it in till then..... i just can stand dylan songs specialy when the dead do them...i think dylan should ben a poet not a musican....that was my time to wonder the halls maybe bump into people i know....i noticed alot of people said drums and space..i would sit and meditate through that part... let your life proceed by its own design
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I know I know :-) but it always felt like the longest song in the world. "When the smoke has cleared, she said, that's what she said to me. You're gonna want a bed to lay your head and a little sympathy"
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SPACE.........
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First was outside, no problem. Second, great sound in Boston Garden bathroom!
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The only time I was relieved (pun intended) by Little Red Rooster... but even then.. I danced all the way to can... and back! Seek the Truth, Appreciate Beauty in all Things, Try to do Better
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Never met a Dead song I didn't like, but Rat Dog's Mama Said (or whatever the name is) is a perfect time for me to recycle my beer...
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Without a doubt, "Drums/Space" would be enough to make me head for the lobby.
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Usually by the time drumz and space comes on, i'm to messed up to move anywhere...LOL, but that would probably be the best time to go tinkle if you had too.:)Peace- Moye
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I have been a "head" now since at least 1974 [and before] & I've seen alot of shows & I think I can honestly say [maybe it has something to do with being a musician too] that I have NEVER EVER "run for an exit" because of ANY Grateful Dead tune ! [even when the boys were at their absolute worst !] You all should be ashamed of yourselves for even THINKING ANYTHING like that ! Shame on you ! SHAME ON YOU !! Where has the true Deadhead experience gone ? Am I the only true Deadhead left ??
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I've grown to love a lot of songs after hearing them live, but I'm not a fan of the Cowboy songs - I mean El Paso is a cool song, Me and my Uncle, not so much - it's WEIRd when it feels like Bobby is playing Let's Pretend up there. But the one song that really gets on my nerves is Mexicali Blues. At my first show we were tripping hard and the whole night was full of magical songs: Brown-Eyed, Bird Song, Althea, Shakedown, DARK STAR - but when that Mexicali came around I just couldn't believe how ill-fitting it was. I gotta say that Jerry's midi sounds could be awful at times and the phony mariachi trumpet tone is one of the worst. Talk about wrenching you out of warp-space. I didn't run for the can, I just sort of smiled at all the crazy heads grooving down and getting into it - it sounded like the musical equivalent of a prozak overdose and it felt creepy that everyone could love it so much... Each to her own! I've always been a lover of drumz>space - I come to the shows with that part in mind. Don't get me wrong, I'm a melody and harmony freak, but NO ONE else out there is doing this, especially to an appreciative audience. Even if many go for a pee break, lots stick around for the most transcendental experience they'll have, possibly ever. Love all you heads out there and your individual tastes. This thread is funny! K
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At one point, I told my wife that I have to go. They started DDHNM so I stood for it. At the end of the song, I was sure I have time to go and come back for the next one. The bathroom was CROWDED. Just came back for the beginning of Lost Sailor. Missed " Don't ease me in", one of my favorite. Just thingkin about it. funny, thought. Same show, a guy fall down his beer on our heads, the band start "Looks like rain". Some of those memories. Grate. Richard.
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I'm with Faron...I never run for the door...and Drums/Space is my favorite, especially last week at the Forum...I love all the spacey way out shit. As far as songs go, well...they are always different and I love the jams...so...I usually just piss on the floor.
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I don't think I've ever been to the bathroom at a Dead show. I did go to the toilet frequently at the Warfield during JGB set breaks but that was because they sold beer inside.
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Am apalled! That's disgusting! Selling beer in the bathroom? am intrigued-never heard of that.********************************** Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. Mark Twain
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of the words floor pisser, Incognito does not come to mind. Beware the Jig is UP! ha ha I've been telling people for years frothy beer tastes like Piss, imagine cashing in on that..... To each his own :) PEACE
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or Desolation Row if I have to shit. "In a bed, in a bed, by the waterside I will lay my head. Listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul."
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Hey...I was just joking....iknowurider was right...Never trust a Merry Prankster...
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Guaranteed pee break tunes... Easy Answers, Corinna, Victim or the Crime, Mexicali Blue's, Walkin' Blue's, Picasso Moon, Any song attempted by Vince Welnick other than Baba O'Riley, I Will Take You Home, I Fought the Law, Gentleman Start Your Engines, Wave to the Wind, Broken Arrow, KC Moan, Eternity
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me & my uncle or mexicali blues or big river or another good one, little red rooster. HaHa easy answers.
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CC Rider is so horrible luckily they never played it for me! Same for Day Job.______________________________________________________________ I think I'll go up on a mountain, I'll fling myself off into space I'm not doing it because I'm desperate, I'm just trying to save some space...
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Why not pee BEFORE a concert? It just seems really odd to me that there are 24 hrs in a day, correct? If you are aware you are on your way to a concert that YOU KNOW is gonna be around 3-hours long, why would you not pee beforehand? I'm too young to have seen the Grateful Dead in concert but I one thing I know 100% for sure is I did have that amazing opportunity I certainly wouldn't miss some of it to use the bathroom. I have been to hundreds of shows and never peed once during a concert. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a group of musicians you love/admire perform in front of you...and you're gonna leave to go pee?No offense, just sounds crazy to me. I'd wanna spend every second at a Dead show enjoying the music and watching the performing. "What we do is as American as lynch mobs." - Jerome Garcia